So after a very satisfying visit to Otomo Katsuhiro’s Genga Exhibition I decided to swing by the Suginami Animation Museum, located in Ogikubo. It’s actually within walking distance from my old workplace at Sunrise Studio. I had in mind to visit while I was still living in Japan but R&R always won out after 14 straight hours of work.

(below) A tiny and partially hidden sign greets visitors at the entrance of the museum. It was actually a bad day to be traveling as it was pouring and I was lugging around a whole bunch of gifts I bought at the genga exhibition.

(above ) Animation directors and other artists leave their mark on the circular drawing board located in the centre of the exhibition hall. (below) A timeline charts the history of Japanese animation and the works created over the decades.

(above) A typical animator’s work desk. The reproduction is pretty spot on from my memory of the 2D animators desks at Sunrise. (below) Painted production cells from Hiroyuki Okiura’s excellent animated film Jin-roh : The Wolf Brigade. Note the distinctive punch holes at the top of each drawing where the peg bar is inserted. I still have one of those lying around somewhere.

(above) Posters of recent anime features, including Hiroyuki Okiura’s new film A Letter To Momo. (below) A special Madhouse exhibition was on-going but no photography was allowed in that area. I saw some interesting Perfect Blue character sheets and concept art – pity no art book was ever published for the film.

Here’s the official homepage if you plan on visiting. Admission is free.